Statement by Mr. Li Linlin of the Chinese Delegation at the Fourth Committee of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly On International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Out Space

2012/10/18

Mr. Chairman,

Please allow me to begin with thanks to Mr. Yasushi Horikawa, Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), for his leadership that made the 55th Session of COPUOS a success. We endorse the relevant report to be adopted by the GA. We would like to express our appreciation for the long-standing efforts of the Office for Outer Space Affairs under the able leadership of Dr. Othman in facilitating international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Mr. Chairman,

This year is filled with good news in international space exploration: another probe mission has landed on the Mars; the international space station welcomed the first commercial spacecraft; China’s manned spacecraft Shenzhou-9 docked with Tiangong-1 orbital station for the first time, and also for the first time, women have been included in the ranks of Chinese astronauts. All these are encouraging developments. However, with the further expansion of space exploration, space debris and other environmental problems in space are posing an increasingly grave threat to space activities of mankind. As we enjoy more and more benefits from the uses of outer space, so are we faced with more and more complicated uncertainties and risks from space.

It's of utmost importance to uphold and advocate the sustainable development of outer space activities. To realize the aim of sustainable development of outer space activities, we should not only rely on advanced technology and its applications, but more importantly, commit ourselves to the spirit of unity and solidarity and the promotion of international cooperation. In view of the Chinese delegation, international cooperation should be comprehensive and progressive. International community should actively explore various ways and means to deepen and expand the international cooperation in this regard. In the areas of raising awareness of the concept of sustainable development of outer space activities and promoting the international cooperation in this area, COPUOS should play a leading role, thus turning into reality sustainable use of outer space.

Mr. Chairman,

China always maintains that outer space be used for peaceful purposes. We are against the militarization of and arms race in outer space. China is of the view that a new international instrument needs to be negotiated and developed as soon as possible with a view to eliminating the security threat in the outer space.

China has been conducting space activities in a responsible manner and actively advocating the new concept of inclusive development. Over the last year, China closely monitored space debris and provided relevant early warning, continued to improve relevant standards and regulatory regime, carried out a complete passivation of the rockets in the Long March series, took measures to remove a number of disused geostationary satellites off their orbits, and steadily pushed forward its debris mitigation work. All these efforts have contributed to the long-term sustainability of space activities. In other areas, China, actively responding to COPUOS’s “Manned Space Technology Initiative”, has offered more countries, especially developing countries, opportunities to participate in the construction and research of China’s Space Station. Using platforms such as UN-SPIDER Beijing Office and Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, China is actively engaged in training, capacity-building, and data and technical services in the area of outer space with a view to sharing with other countries China’s space development opportunities and results.

Mr. Chairman,

From November 5 to 9, the 7th Session of the International Committee of the Global Satellite Navigation Systems（ICG-7）will be held in Beijing. At this moment, preparations for the meeting are well under way. China welcomes all of you to come to Beijing for the meeting. In addition, we also have the honor to inform that China’s Beidou satellite navigation system will complete its Asia-Pacific sector and begin to provide services within this year. The Beidou is an open and inclusive system. China has started cooperation with countries such as Pakistan, and hopes to cooperate with more countries in the area of navigation.

As reflected in the white paper of "China's Space Activities" issued in December 2011, the Chinese Government makes a solemn pledge, that is, to work with the international community to safeguard peaceful and clean outer space and promote inclusive development. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate on behalf of the Chinese Government that China will, by upholding the philosophy of harmonious outer space, continue to work with the international community represented by COPUOS and commit ourselves to striving towards inclusive development in the exploration and use of outer space and building an outer space of peace, of development, of cooperation and of rule of law.